Several weeks ago, a woman who’d been invited to Denver Health’s NightShine Gala called to say she was “totally pumped” at the prospect of seeing headliner Lionel Richie, but puzzled about wearing an evening gown to the National Western Events Center.

“My date told me it was black-tie, so I splurged on a gorgeous gown and (high-heeled) Jimmy Choo sandals. For real, is this what I should be wearing in that big old barn?”

I assured her that while all sorts of four-legged critters inhabit it during the National Western Stock Show, when it’s time for NightShine, the venue turns into a whole ‘nother animal.

Because NightShine is one of the city’s stellar events, raising upwards of $1 million, a leadership committee headed by former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb agreed with a suggestion from BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt, the owners of Bouquets, that the decor have a celestial feel.

It took months of planning and the better part of a week to install, but when the 1,600 guests entered the party area on May 4 they stepped into a dreamy, softly lit scene that was worlds apart from the dusty, cavernous arena that at least one guest expected to find.

It took five dozen weather balloons, groups of Japanese lanterns and a boatload of flowers to make this happen, and Vogt gives a description of the effort involved in my Seen First blog: blogs.denverpost.com/davidson.

In addition to Richie’s show, NightShine also included dinner (beef short-rib “lollipops” and chocolate mousse from Epicurean) and a salute to Jerry Hodge and Kevin Kauffman, the 2011 Denver Health Foundation Stars.

When he was 23, Hodge bought Maxor Drug, a small pharmacy in Amarillo, Texas. Today it is a national provider of pharmacy services, with clients including Denver Health. Kauffman, founder and chief executive of the independent oil and gas firm K.P. Kauffman Co., is a heart-disease survivor, mission command pilot for Angel Flight West and a member of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority board. He expressed his gratitude by giving $1.5 million to establish the Kevin P. and Elaine Kauffman Distinguished Chair in Cardiology at Denver Health.

Joanne Davidson was The Denver Post's society editor for 29 years before retiring in July 2015. She quickly discovered she wasn't ready for the rocking chair, so she dusted off her evening gowns and returned to the paper as a freelance reporter, writing feature stories and covering charitable fundraising events in the metro area.